Friday, 10 February 2012

A phobia refers to an intense and irrational fear of a specific
situation, object, person or activity. While we are generally familiar
with common phobias such as acrophobia (fear of heights) and
claustrophobia (fear of small spaces), some phobias are less well known.
Here are 10 of the most bizarre phobias.

Optophobia: Fear of opening one’s eyes

If ever an award was given for Most Inconvenient Phobia, it would
have to go to optophobia – the fear of opening one’s eyes! Although the
act of opening our eyes is something that few of us ever give thought
to, for optophobics this simple, daily act can be a nightmare. Luckily,
if you are reading this list, you most likely aren’t suffering from this
condition!

Chorophobia: Fear of dancing

If nightclubs, weddings and small children in tutus fill you with an
overwhelming sense of dread, you could be suffering from chorophobia –
the fear of dancing. Regardless of dance ability and whether or not you
are required to hit the dancefloor, any situation or event that relates
to dancing can be a source of fear for chorophobics.

Geliophobia: Fear of laughter

Many studies suggest that laughter is great for our health; helping
to build social bonds, improve mental health and look after the heart.
However, for those suffering from geliophobia, the act of laughing, or
being around those who laugh, can actually cause overwhelming fear and
anxiety. Suggested reasons for geliophobia are anxiety about laughing in
inappropriate situations or of being laughed at by others.

Arachibutyrophobia: Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth

It may not be a debilitating or life-altering condition, yet no list
of bizarre phobias would be complete without the inclusion of
arachibutyrephobia – the inexplicable fear of peanut butter sticking to
the roof of your mouth. While peanut butter is clearly not obligatory
for a healthy and satisfactory life, arachibutyrophobics could miss out
on the speculated health benefits of peanut butter, including its
abilities to lower cholesterol and help ward off heart disease.

Heliphobia: Fear of sunlight

A rare but unfortunate condition, heliphobia refers to the fear of
sunlight. Not only does going out in the sun instigate severe feelings
of anxiety and panic in sufferers, but heliophobics may also experience
fear of bright lights. Most often the condition is associated with an
anxiety about the perceived dangers of the sun; however, unless you
happen to be a vampire, avoiding the sun entirely is likely to be an
impossible and unnecessary task. It can also be dangerous for your
wellbeing, as sunlight is good for regulating the mood and protecting
bone health.

Deipnophobia: Fear of dinner conversations

While many people suffer from a general form of social anxiety,
deipnophobia takes a rather more specific twist and is restricted to a
fear of carrying on a conversation while eating. Although this can cause
discomfort and awkwardness for dinner party guests, it seems that
deipnophics could be on to something, as remaining silent while eating
can actually help benefit digestion.

Neophobia: Fear of new things

While many people are wary of change, neophobia refers to an intense
and irrational fear of all new things and experiences. Neophobia can
impact on happiness and wellbeing as sufferers miss out on many
life-enhancing experiences. When applied to the diet it can also mean
that sufferers miss out on various healthy foods and nutrients. Research
has also shown that the stress of neophobia can shorten life
expectancy.

Syngenesphobia: Fear of relatives

Many of us experience embarrassment or irritation with our families
at times. However, those with syngenesphobia suffer from an excessive
fear of their relatives. Unless there is a specific, explicable reason
for these fears, it is worth seeking help to alleviate this phobia and
help you bond with relatives as research shows that forming strong
family ties can help to increase life span.

Ablutophobia: Fear of washing and bathing

Although many children are resistant to being washed, this condition
is much less common in adults. However, for a rare few the thought of
stepping under a shower is quite literally terrifying! The good news for
ablutophobics is that skipping the occasional shower can help to
preserve natural oils and good bacteria that protect your skin and help
to prevent disease. However, making it a regular habit is unlikely to
benefit either your health or social life.

Geniophobia: Fear of chins

Geniophobia is an overwhelming fear of chins. Yes, that innocuous
body part attached to the lower part of your face! Further phobias of
seemingly innocent body parts include genuphobia (fear of knees),
chirophobia (fear of hands) and ishicascadiggaphobia (fear of elbows).
As these phobias can make normal social interaction extremely difficult,
treatment through therapy is highly recommended.

Thursday, 9 February 2012

All kinds of tea, be it black, green or oolong, comes from the
Camellia sinensis plant. The colour of the tea depends upon the amount
of fermentation it has been through. Oolong tea is partially fermented,
black tea is completely fermented and green tea is not fermented at all. It is produced by steaming fresh tea leaves at very high temperature.

That tea is rich in antioxidants is a given, but green tea
is known to contain large amounts of polyphenols, thearubigins,
epicatechins and catechins – all types of an antioxidant known as
flavanoids.

Green tea and its health benefits

Heart healthy: Regular consumption of green tea
has been known to reduce overall cholesterol levels, especially the bad
LDL cholesterol which ultimately reduces the risk of heart attacks and
heart diseases.

Fights cancer:Catechins present in green tea, are
the flavanoids which fight free radicals that damage DNA and increase
the risk of cancer. Since green tea
is not put through a whole lot of processing, catechins, especially
epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are available in larger numbers.

Helps you lose weight:Can a simple activity like drinking green tea
help you lose weight? Recent studies show that catechins help combat
accumulated fat and aid in weight loss. Experts say that this fat
reducing property catechins can help in a number of lifestyle disease,
including obesity.

Boosts your immune system: The antioxidants in green
tea help give your immune system a boost of good health which helps
keep common ailments like the flu away.

Happy teeth:Catechins are also antibacterial, which
is why they are so great in fighting tooth decay, gum diseases and bad
breath. Additionally, they also reduce the formation of plaque.

Prevents diabetes: Preliminary studies show that green tea may help to prevent or at the very least, slow down the onset of diabetes. The same study also suggested that green tea acts a very good agent in lowering your blood sugar.

Improves bone health: Studies show that not only can
drinking green tea help improve bone density and help reduce the risk
of a fracture, it also encourages bone formation.

Reduces the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s:
Research shows that polyphenols present in green tea helps in improving
concentration, prevents memory loss and helps reduce the accumulation
of brain damaging proteins in your body.

Great for your skin: Not just as a drink, skin care
products with green tea extracts are also wonderful for your skin as it
helps your skin stay supple. The antioxidants in green tea are also
known to help keep wrinkles at bay.

Experts suggest anywhere from 2-5 cups daily can help you rake in
maximum benefit from this natural wonder. Try the decaffeinated version
if you’re worried about the caffeine.

Sunday, 5 February 2012

All the data stored in your computer - every word, picture, number, and sound - is captured as a series of electrical pulses that are either on or off. A number system called binary is used to represent these pulses with "1" meaning "on" and "0" meaning "off". A single binary digit, know as a "bit", switches a single switch on or of. By linking together these switches, the computer can carry out the complex operations we demand.

Remember being told that a glass of wine everyday is not just 'not
unhealthy', but also an elixir that can do wonders to your heart's
health? Turns out there's not much truth in it after all.

A recent
damning report suggests that all the years of research that proved that
red wine is a heart-friendly drink is based on fabricated reports.
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in large amounts in red grapes, and
hence red wine, was touted to be a miracle discovery. Investigations
that began in 2008 have found damning evidence to the contrary and all
the research that suggested that red wine is good for the heart is
likely to be dismissed.

The man who led the research at the Cardiovascular Center at the
University of Connecticut, Dipak K.Das, has alleged that the
investigations are a conspiracy against him and that as a result of the
pressure, he has suffered a stroke.

The jury is out still on the effects of resveratrol, but before you relax with your evening glass of red wine, think again.

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

#1. It provides a waterproof covering around your body.#2. It forms a barrier between your delicate tissues and the harsh outside world.#3. It stops germs getting into your body.#4. It filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation in sunlight that can damage your cells.#5. It helps your body maintain a steady temperature.#6. It houses receptors that enable you to detect touch, pressure, vibrations, heat, and cold.